Girls Swimming & Diving

Westerville South counting on Buer to lead squad

View SlideshowRequest to buy this photoAdam Cairns/ThisWeekWesterville South's Riley Buer is a three-time Division I state qualifier. The senior finished 22nd in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.2 last season at state.

Three-time Division I state qualifier Riley Buer has returned to lead the Westerville South High School girls swimming and diving team.

The senior finished 22nd in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1 minute, 7.2 seconds last season in the state meet at Branin Natatorium in Canton. She was the only state qualifier for the Wildcats, who did not score. Upper Arlington (300 points) won its eighth consecutive state title as 55 teams scored.

Buer placed eighth in the 100 breast (1:05.99) at state as a sophomore after tying for 12th (1:07.48) in the event as a freshman.

"Our girls team isn't quite as deep as our boys team. We're a smaller team," ninth-year coach Kevin Kissling said. "I expect Riley to qualify in two events at the state meet."

The other event is the 200 individual medley. Last season, Buer set the program record in the event when she placed fifth in the district meet at Ohio State in 2:10.14. The final at-large state-qualifying time in the event was 2:09.89.

Buer placed fourth in the 100 breast (1:06.21) at district last season to earn an at-large state berth, as the top two finishers in each swimming event at district automatically qualified for state.

South returns two other district qualifiers in senior Olivia Watkins and junior Corrina Talamo. Watkins was part of the 200 medley relay that finished 14th (1:55.31) and the 200 freestyle relay that finished 13th (1:45.36), and Talamo competed in the 500 free (5:37.66, 18th) and 200 free (2:05.71, tied for 23rd).

Buer also was on the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay that finished 11th (3:49.53).

"I believe Corrina Talamo is going to improve a ton, more than she ever has before," Kissling said. "I really believe she is going to give herself an outside chance of going to the state meet."

The Wildcats opened Dec. 1, finishing third (60) in the Columbus Academy Relays behind Delaware (114) and Academy (88) and ahead of Gahanna (50), Bexley (46) and Wellington (30).

South lost to Dublin Coffman 118-52 in a dual meet Dec. 7 and finished 28th (26) in the Ned Reeb Invitational on Dec. 8 at Ohio State behind champion UA (439) as 48 teams scored.

Last season, South tied New Albany for third (162) in the 11-team sectional at Thomas Worthington behind Thomas (262) and Delaware (213) and finished 14th (55) at district behind champion UA (522) as 27 teams scored.

As part of OCC realignment, Liberty and Marysville moved to the OCC-Central and Olentangy moved to the OCC-Capital. Those teams were replaced by Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Darby and Worthington Kilbourne.

Warhawks return three state qualifiers

Central returns three state qualifiers in seniors Marissa Kramer and Sally Thompson and junior Alex Schuttinger.

"We'd definitely like to get the same number of relays back to state and have an equal or better placement in the relays," said Austin Staab, who is sharing coaching duties with Kelli Downey.

Also back is senior Chloe Merriss, who placed eighth (356.8 points) in diving at district last season.

Junior Dariyn Stedman and sophomore Kaylor Schuttinger are returning district qualifiers. Stedman finished 26th in the 100 butterfly (1:03.39) and was on the 200 medley relay that finished 21st (2:01.24), and Schuttinger tied for 23rd in the 200 free (2:05.71) and 30th in the 500 free (5:50.87).

Also at district, Thompson placed fifth in the 50 free (24.54), Kramer finished 11th in the 100 fly (58.79) and 17th in the 100 breast (1:09.62) and Alex Schuttinger finished 12th in the 100 breast (1:08.37).

Warriors return sixdistrict qualifiers

Bernhard competed at district in the 500 free (5:35.94, 15th) and 200 free (2:03.03, 17th) as well as on the 200 medley relay that placed 12th (1:54.89) and the 200 free relay that finished 15th (1:46.15).

Miller placed 18th in the 50 free (25.74) and tied for 23rd in the 100 free (55.79) and was on the 200 medley and 200 free relays. Jeffries finished 16th in the 100 breast (1:09.33) and 17th in the 200 IM (2:21.82) and was on the 200 medley relay, and Williams finished 28th in the 100 breast (1:15.92).

Weaver was on the 400 free relay that finished 20th (4:02.82) and the 200 free relay and Kendall was a member of all three relays.